Here goes:

Game 1, @ Carolina

Why We Should Be Concerned: It seems that Carolina is always a dangerous team, and they always play us close.  Everyone expected the anchor of their defensive line, Julius Peppers, to be playing elsewhere at this point, but he ended up signing with the team for at least another year.  Jake Delhomme somehow manages to find ways to win, and wideout Steve Smith is always a TD threat.  A tough team to play in an away opener.  The last time we met was in December of 2006, with the playoffs on the line, and the Birds took them down on Lito Sheppard's last-minute end zone pick in a classic Monday night thriller...they'll be looking for payback.

Why We Shouldn't: Delhomme is aging, and that has started to show in his rising INT-to-TD ratio.  Peppers wants to play for another team, and the team's other "threat" at receiver is Methuselah..er, MUHSIN Muhammad.  The team has a couple legitimate game-changers, but one gets the sense that Carolina simply isn't as good as New Orleans or Atlanta, their division rivals, this year.

Game 2, vs. New Orleans

Why We Should Be Concerned: Drew Brees is among the best quarterbacks in the league, and his favorite target, Marques Colston, is a rising star.  If anyone's seen the Saints' pre-game psych-up, you'll know that Brees is beyond pumped for each and every game, and his players follow his example.  Brees is a true leader, and makes the players around him better.  They're a proud team, and deserve respect.

Why We Shouldn't: The game isn't being played in the cozy, down-home confines of the Superdome; the Saints will face the Birds in the Nest of Death for the first time since 2003.  The three meetings of these two teams since then took place in the Big Easy.

Game 3, vs. Kansas City

Why We Should Be Concerned: The Chiefs, for the first time in a long time, have reason to be optimistic.  They have a new quarterback in Matt Cassel, and a future Pro Bowler in Dwayne Bowe.  Larry Johnson wants to have a rebound year, and Glenn Dorsey shores up the D in the middle of the line.  It remains to be seen if the Chiefs can turn the corner, but they're definitely improved.

Why We Shouldn't: KC legend Tony Gonzalez, once thought to be a prime candidate to play for us, is in Atlanta now, and he's still effective.  Matt Cassel doesn't have Randy Moss to throw to anymore, nor does he have Bill Belichick and his staff.  Their secondary is almost nonexistent.  This is a team that has just started on the road to improvement, but they're not good enough to beat us at home.

Game 4, vs. Tampa Bay

Why We Should Be Concerned: The new-look Bucs are eager to prove they can win with a rookie QB and a talented defense.  Josh Freeman has the best chance to be the starter, and he has fine targets to throw to in Michael Clayton and Kellen Winslow, the team's biggest off-season signee.  The defense is, as usual, very good, with Gaines Adams anchoring the line, Barrett Ruud prowling the middle, and Aqib Talib watching the corner.

Why We Shouldn't: Like I said, ROOKIE QB.  Longtime defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin followed his son Lane to the University of Tennessee, which takes away the comfort of familiarity.  Jon Gruden won a Super Bowl in his first year as head coach, and he winds up fired after six years.  Owner Malcolm Glazer doesn't screw around.  The new head coach, Raheem Morris, is only 33.  That's pressure.

Game 5, @ Oakland

Why We Should Be Concerned: Last year, I penciled in the game at Cincy as a gimme win.  We all remember how that turned out.  Sometimes the Birds drop games they should win in a walk, so this year they can't afford to overlook anyone.  Plus, JaMarcus Russell has a new target in Darrius Heyward-Bey (I call him Wee-Bey, for any The Wire fans out there).  Darren McFadden could continue to develop.

Why We Shouldn't: Al Davis is still the owner...and the Oakland Raiders are still a terrible team.  Instead of drafting for need, Davis went with speed (again).  I heard there was a line of Raiders fans attempting to leap off the Empire State Building once the draft was over.  This is our first game after the Bye, so we should be rested and prepared.

Game 6, @ Washington

Why We Should Be Concerned: Our first division game of the season (and the first of three in a row) comes in late October, when the cream of the crop starts to rise to the top.  The Redskins had a busy offseason, and in true Dan Snider fashion, they signed a big name for an insane amount of money.  Albert Haynesworth is a munster, however, and he'll be the first guy that can truly test our new o-line.  Clinton Portis is still dangerous, and Chris Cooley for some reason kills us.  The crowd in Landover will be hyped for this one.

Why We Shouldn't: The big controversy swirling around this team in the off-season was the quarterback question.  Rumor surfaced near draft time that Dan Snider secretly coveted USC QB Mark Sanchez, and that Jason Campbell as a result had suddenly become expendable.  Campbell's ego and confidence have to be bruised after this episode, even though Sanchez went to the Jets and Snider took Brian Orakpo, a DE.  We'll see if Campbell can pull it together.

Game 7, vs. NYG

Why We Should Be Concerned: Their defensive line is one of the best, if not the best, in football.  Sackmaster Osi Umenyiora is returning to that line this year after spending 2008 on the sidelines with a blown knee.  Justin Tuck should be dangerous as always.  Our new O-line will be thoroughly put to the test this time.  Tom Coughlin always has his team prepare well for us.  Aaaand there's the little matter of us beating them twice at the Meadowlands last year, including a shocking playoff win that sent us the NFC Championship game.  They'll want redemption, especially in our house.

Why We Shouldn't: The G-Men had one deep threat that we never seemed to have an answer for, and now he's gone.  They replaced him with Hakeem Nicks, but can the rookie fill Plax's shoes?  Also, Brandon Jacobs doesn't have Derrick Ward to spell him anymore, and Jacobs, despite his size and power, is a one-trick pony, and he'll get worn down late in the game.  Eli will have to prove himself all over again, now that his once-favorite target isn't around.

Game 8, vs. Dallas

Why We Should Be Concerned: Our first clash against our most hated rival will come at home at the midway point of the season, so expectations and pressure will be high.  Our division games are always tough, and the Cowgirls will be wanting to prove themselves an elite, "distraction-free" team.  There are three guys on this roster that give me pause: DeMarcus Ware, Jason Witten, and Felix Jones.

Why We Shouldn't:  Tony Romo is facing the pressure of having to prove that he is capable of being the team's leader, and has yet to answer the question of whether he's an elite quarterback.  The team purports to have gotten rid of its "distractions" when they let T.O. go and when Romo dumped Jessica.  The problems lie deeper than that, however.  Wade Phillips isn't a bad coach...he's just soft, and ultimately, players can't respect that.  And what does it say about the players that they complained that Bill Parcells was too mean?  They need a head coach, not a wet nurse.  There's too many egos Phillips has to stroke on this team, even without T.O....the worst of them being Jerry Jones.  As long as Wade is the coach and Jones continues to meddle, the Cowboys are a team in limbo.

Game 9, @ San Diego

Why We Should Be Concerned: The Chargers are a vastly talented team, and as we saw last year, they can turn a mediocre regular-season performance into playoff success.  When he's healthy, LaDainian Tomlinson is the best running back in the NFL.  When he's healthy, Antonio Gates is the best tight end in the NFL.  When he's healthy, Shawne Merriman is...you get the point.  Darren Sproles ain't too bad, either.

Why We Shouldn't: First and foremost, Norv Turner is the head coach.  Second, Tomlinson and Gates are rarely healthy these days.  Third, both players are aging.  Fourth, Norv Turner is the head coach.  Fifth, Merriman is recovering from a bad knee injury.  Sixth, Philip Rivers is a punk, not a leader.  Seventh...Norv Turner is the head coach.

Game 10, @ Chicago

Why We Should Be Concerned: This was another game I had penciled in as a surefire win last year, and of course, we lost.  Now the Bears, who we seem to play every season, have a legitimate QB in Jay Cutler, and a defense that is still pretty decent.  We can't afford another swoon in the Windy City; the playoff push will be in full swing by this point.

Why We Shouldn't: Chicago may have acquired Cutler, but they sure as hell didn't give him anyone to throw to.  Tight end Greg Olsen is his best option, and he's okay at best.  I couldn't name a Bears receiver if I had a gun to my head.  Add this to the fact that Cutler can be a whiny malcontent, and you've got yourself a team that could be fading by this point.

Game 11, vs. Washington

Why We Should Be Concerned: The Deadskins were the only division rival we lost both games to last year, and we lost the first one at home in ugly, lethargic fashion.  The Skins may flounder every year, but somehow, they always come back to bite us in the ass.  With only five games left to play from this point, every down counts, and we need to beat these guys.

Why We Shouldn't: If they're not out of the playoffs by this point, they'll certainly be on their way.  The Birds and Giants are the class of this division.

Game 12, @ Atlanta

Why we Should Be Concerned: Here's another team we seem to play all the time, and if they are able to continue their success from last year, they could be a dangerous team to play during the playoff push.  Matt Ryan, if he avoids the sophomore swoon, is a good quarterback and Roddy White, his favorite receiver, is a Pro-Bowler.  This is a team that rebounded nicely after the Bobby Petrino ordeal and the Michael Vick scandal, and they'll want to show they're for real.

Why We Shouldn't: We always play well against the Falcons, and they're playing in what could be one of the toughest divisions in the league.  The way I see it, all four teams in the NFC South have the potential to make the playoffs, and they'll be beating each other up all season long.  Our situation is no different, but our guys have been there...Matt Ryan and Roddy White will be new to it.

Game 13, @ New York Giants

Why We Should Be Concerned: For all the reasons listed previously, added to the fact that the G-Men aren't going to want to lose to the Birds at home three times in a row.

Why We Shouldn't: Brandon Jacobs could be seriously worn out by this point, and the pressure should be on the Giants to win at home against a team that beat them twice at the Meadowlands last season, the second time to bounce them from the playoffs.

Game 14, vs. San Francisco

Why We Should Be Concerned: Again, we can't have another attack of the Cincy Syndrome here.  This is a must-win game, and we can't overlook the fact that they have some young talent.  Frank Gore is a good RB, Patrick Willis is an awesome LB, and now they've got a true wideout in Michael Crabtree.

Why We Shouldn't: Attention, Mike Singletary: you need a quarterback to win football games, dude.

Game 15, vs. Denver

Why We Should Be Concerned: Weapon X returns to the Linc...god, how bittersweet this game will be to watch.  Will he take revenge on his former team?  We'll see...

Why We Shouldn't: Without Jay Cutler, and with a new head coach that hasn't exactly been doing a bang-up job so far, the Broncos scream "mediocrity."

Game 16, @ Dallas

Why We Should Be Concerned: For the second year in a row, we play the Cowgirls to close out the regular season.  This time we'll be playing in their house.  And man, is it a big-ass house.  They'll want revenge for last time, pure and simple.  And this is the time for them to do it.

Why We Shouldn't: Does the new Texas Stadium remind anyone else of the COBRA Terrordrome from the old G.I. Joe cartoons?  I say that not only because of its immense size and imposing nature, but also because, like the Terrordrome, it is full of arrogant, bumbling idiots who always end up losing to the good guys in the end.  Well, in this instance, we get to be G.I. Joe to Dallas' COBRA.  Let the battle begin.